Football writing, thoughts and more by Gary James
On this day (30 December) in 1978 if you just happened to be in New York you could watch Manchester City v Southampton in the All Star Soccer programme (or should that be program?) while you waited for Steve Austin, the six million dollar man later that day.
The game actually took place on 9 December, so there’s a good chance you’d have known the result. I won’t spoil it though as you can see highlights of the game here (5m 33secs in to this review of 1978-79):
Continuing this series of features covering the 1980s for Manchester City… Today it’s back to this day (30 December) in 1989 and Manchester City v Millwall. That day David White scored twice as the Blues won 2-0 at Maine Road in the top flight. Today that first goal would probably get debated at length when VAR eventually brings a decision but back then we just celebrated and enjoyed the moment.
You can watch the goals from this game below. It’s great to see the second goal involves Paul Lake and White seemed determined it would go in no matter what. Enjoy!
If you want to know more about the entire 1989-90 season then become a subscriber and read the following 8,000 word article on that season. Enjoy!
Read more of this content when you subscribe today. It costs £3 per month (cancel anytime) to access everything posted since 1 October 2022 or there’s a special annual rate below which gives greater access and works out much cheaper.
Read more of this content when you subscribe today. It costs £3 per month (above) or £20 a year (here) to access everything posted since the site was created in December 2020. This special rate works out about £1.67 a week and gives access to everything posted, including PDFs of 3 of my books.
If you’d like to know more about subscribing then see:
Today’s feature was one of many on the 1980s. I hope you’ve enjoyed them. If you missed the earlier features then start here:
The 1980s: 1980-1981 Gow, Hutchison & McDonald
Well, it’s survived! This website is now three years old and I’d like to thank all those who have subscribed or donated to keep it going. Like many people I’m self-employed and all my research is funded by myself, or via people buying my books or subscribing/donating to this site. I do occasionally do paid projects with various organisations, but this website has been the main source of my writing for the last three years. It survives because it’s supported by subscribers and I am eternally grateful for their support.
When I set out to create this site in December 2020 I wanted to ensure there’d be good content that was free, alongside PDFs of some of my books, audio interviews, lengthy articles and other features that were available to subscribers. It has become a repository for some of my work and my intention remains to make this a comprehensive record and archive.
For over 500 consecutive days there has been at least one article/feature a day posted, while in total there are over 1300 posts ranging from simple on this day style features to indepth 10,000 word articles and audio interviews of one hour or more. There are video talks on various MCFC related topics too. Over the coming year this will be added to significantly as I intend to publish more indepth articles, starting on New Year’s Day. In fact the month of January will be dedicated to the 1970s as I publish at least one feature each day throughout the month on something from that decade. Like the 1980s features I’ve posted recently there will be indepth articles on each 1970s season plus other features.
If you’d like to read these articles and everything else on the site then why not subscribe? It costs £3 a month (cancel anytime) or there’s a discounted £20 a year offer too. It’s less than the cost of a history book but there’s so much here. You could always sign up for a month and see what you think. You can find out how here:
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Following on from yesterday here’s another 1980s Christmas visit to Maine Road by Wolverhampton Wanderers and just like yesterday’s reminder, this game also ended in a Manchester City win. This was one year and one day after yesterday’s match and was played on 28 December 1981. This programme cover is not quite as Christmassy as yesterday’s but the Blues did make an attempt at highlighting the festive season.
The previous season’s FA Cup finalists had signed Trevor Francis at the start of the season and he scored, as did Asa Hartford (on the cover of the programme), to help the Blues to a 2-1 victory.
You can read more on Trevor Francis and the 1981-82 season elsewhere on this site. There are lots of articles, many free including an interview I did with Trevor a few years back. Follow the link for more:
https://gjfootballarchive.com/tag/trevor-francis/
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DonateHere’s a nice Christmassy Manchester City match programme cover from today (27 December) in 1980. This was for City’s game with Wolves. Some of the players look happy others seem to have a fixed stare as if to say ‘do we really need to hold this banner?’
That day City defeated Wolves 4-0 with goals from Tommy Hutchison (2 goals; holding the banner above the ‘a’ in Christmas), Bobby McDonald (3rd player from right) and Kevin Reeves (4th player from right).
You can find out more on the 1980s, John Bond (including a fairly frank audio interview I did with him years ago) and City elsewhere on this website. Subscribers get access to a lot of extra content. To subscribe see the following:
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DonateHere’s another 1980s themed story. On this day (26 December) in 1981 Manchester City defeated Liverpool 3-1 at Anfield but it was a day marred when City keeper Joe Corrigan was felled by a bottle thrown at him. Here are highlights of the game plus a brief audio clip of John Bond talking about the LFC reaction that day.
In 1995 I interviewed former City boss John Bond at his home. The interview lasted about two hours and here’s a brief snippet from that interview where he talks about that win over Liverpool on Boxing Day 1981.
The Blues won 3-1 (Bond, Hartford & Reeves) then two days later (Bond says it’s the next day in this clip but it was 28th December) City defeated Wolves 2-1 at Maine Rd. John discusses a brilliant goal from Trevor Francis. City went top of the League after the Wolves victory.
Stick with the clip because it ends with Bond’s views on how Liverpool used to react to wins and defeats. I’d best not comment – have a listen:
Here are a couple of cuttings from the day.
Happy Boxing Day! Continuing this series of features covering the 1980s for Manchester City… Today it’s back to this day (26 December) in 1989 and Manchester City. v Norwich. Watch these video highlights for two disallowed goals and an effort from Clive Allen. VAR officials and TV companies would love these two disallowed goals now. They’d be replaying them over and over again before deciding whether the goals should stand or not. See what you think.
Manchester City won the match at Maine Road 1-0.
If you want to know more about that weekend and the entire 1989-90 season then become a subscriber and read the following 8,000 word article on that season. Enjoy!
Read more of this content when you subscribe today. It costs £3 per month (cancel anytime) to access everything posted since 1 October 2022 or there’s a special annual rate below which gives greater access and works out much cheaper.
Read more of this content when you subscribe today. It costs £3 per month (above) or £20 a year (here) to access everything posted since the site was created in December 2020. This special rate works out about £1.67 a week and gives access to everything posted, including PDFs of 3 of my books.
If you’d like to know more about subscribing then see:
Today’s feature was the last on the 1980s. I hope you’ve enjoyed them. If you missed the earlier features then start here:
The 1980s: 1980-1981 Gow, Hutchison & McDonald
It’s Christmas Day 1902 and these were the ticket prices for the big Manchester Derby match played at Clayton (the present day BMX site next to the velodrome). The game ended in a 1-1 draw. It’s so strange to think today that many of us would have headed off to a ground on this special day in years gone by. Notice the seats that you could have at United – arm chairs! That’s right. It’s Christmas Day so I’ll hold off making any funny comments but imagine if Old Trafford advertised ‘arm chairs’.
Merry Christmas to all. I hope it’s a safe, comfortable and enjoyable day for you all wherever you are.
Continuing this series of features covering the 1980s for Manchester City… Today it’s back to December 1989 and this reminder of the Junior Blues pantomime ‘Brother Goose’. This City panto was a key annual event from the late 1960s through to the 2000s, having been established in the years before the Junior Blues. Once the Junior Blues was in existence though it seemed logical that the panto would become part and parcel of the junior supporters club.
‘Brother Goose’ of course referenced City’s sponsor of the time Brother.
As you can see from this programme feature on the 1989 panto City’s first team players and coaching staff were often involved and over the years some of the club’s biggest names appeared.
Did you attend a panto or were you one of the people working behind the scenes to make them a huge success? Feel free to post your memories here.
If you want to know more about the entire 1989-90 season then become a subscriber and read the following 8,000 word article on that season. Enjoy!
Read more of this content when you subscribe today. It costs £3 per month (cancel anytime) to access everything posted since 1 October 2022 or there’s a special annual rate below which gives greater access and works out much cheaper.
Read more of this content when you subscribe today. It costs £3 per month (above) or £20 a year (here) to access everything posted since the site was created in December 2020. This special rate works out about £1.67 a week and gives access to everything posted, including PDFs of 3 of my books.
If you’d like to know more about subscribing then see:
Today’s feature was one of many on the 1980s. I hope you’ve enjoyed them. If you missed the earlier features then start here:
The 1980s: 1980-1981 Gow, Hutchison & McDonald
Congratulations City on your 4-0 victory over Fluminense. Great work.
Gary James' Football Archive 